Cyprus spent 40 million euros on hosting Ukrainian refugees

According to the report of the Audit Office of the Republic of Cyprus, the country has spent 40 million euros on hosting Ukrainian refugees. At the moment, the European Commission has refunded Cyprus 6.7 million euros from this amount.

The Auditor General started calculating the expenses following a question raised by a deputy about the procedures for hosting Ukrainian refugees.

The declared expenses cover the period from March 22, 2022, to April 3, 2024. They only concern accommodation and do not include other assistance provided to Ukrainian refugees, such as medical aid and various benefits.

Ukrainian refugees have been accommodated in various hotels across the island, primarily in the Famagusta area, as well as in Paphos and Nicosia.

The Auditor General reminds that the decision of the Council of Ministers to host Ukrainian citizens arises from the Executive Decision of the European Council 2022/382 regarding "the mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine leading to the introduction of temporary protection."

Despite the republic's commitment to provide temporary protected status to Ukrainian refugees, the Audit Office draws attention to the organization of accommodation.

In the auditor's statement, it is noted that at the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, due to the urgency of finding housing for these people, the government bypassed normal procedures – authorities negotiated directly with hotels without publishing contract notices.

According to the Audit Office, such practice may have been acceptable initially but should not have continued for so long, hence "From now on, the government should publish such contract notices."